3-yr old on Matterhorn?

[heatherfeather24]

Our daredevil 3-yr old DS is tall enough to ride Matterhorn this year. What do you guys think? Should we let him give it a shot? I've only ridden it once several years ago and don't have much memory of what it was like -- that and I'll ride any rollercoaster under the sun so I don't have a feel for what is scary and what isn't.

 

[tiffntwins]

My twins started riding the Matterhorn right before they were 3. My daughter loves it,my son...not so much.I think that because your son will be sitting in front of you between your legs, he'll be just fine(esp. since he is a daredevil!).

 

[bumbershoot]

That's how old DS was when he was tall enough and it was open (he was officially tall enough at 2, but it was being refurbished). He didn't much like it, but then he was sitting with DH. DH isn't good at the "this is what's coming next, let's roar at the Yeti, noticing when DS is scared" thing for some reason. He's really connected to DS in so many ways, but not with rides at DLR. Strange.

So DS really didn't like it then. He went on again, oh, in December, I think, at 4.5, and liked it more, but he was sitting with me, in a seat behind DH's seat, so we were "protected" by hubby. And I narrated the ride, made it fun with crazy noises, and the BEST was that I decided to "roar" around the curve, and it just happened to be the curve where "Harold" is! Good timing. I'd also watched the youtube of it with DS several times well before our trip.

He liked it better that time.

But he's not a huge daredevil when it comes to rides. He can get bothered by the atmosphere, even if he's cool with the ride itself. TOT doesn't bug him b/c of the ups and downs, but rather, because of something that happens *before* you start the ups and downs. It's kinda strange.

But anyway, he was 3 when he first rode it.

 

[bigpuma]

I took my son on it just before his 3rd birthday. He said he wanted to go and I must have asked him "are you sure?" 15 times. He didn't like it too much but he also didn't complain. I would say if your DS wants to go take him.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

My dd went on it at 3.5--but only because one of the ladies in waiting at PFF told her a story about the Yeti being a friend of hers, and that no one understands him because he doesn't speak human. So that if dd would go on and say hi to him for her, she would be really grateful. So, we had to ride the matterhorn to say hi to the Yeti...

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I took DD2 on it in March. At that time she was 2 yrs and 3 months. She did not cry, but she did say "done" half-way through. I sang the Tiki Room for almost the entire ride (that is her favorite!). Later on in the day, she pointed at the Matterhorn and wanted to go again. She still talks about the "Firehorn" (no idea why she calls it that!) almost daily and how she wants to go on it again.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Our DD was 3 when we had our trip to Disneyland. She rode the Matterhorn & loved it & then found Space Mountain & BTMRR to be her favorites..... it really just depends on the kid.

 

[MaiynaMouse]

My daughter LOVED the Matterhorn at that age. She was a month shy of 3 when she was tall enough to go on it and she begged to go on. I think we rode it 15 times in that one trip. Every time we go to DL, she says it's going to be her first ride....of course, that changes when we get there and she sees other stuff she remembers and wants to do.
~mm

 

[BecBennett]

Yeah, if he wants to go on it, go for it

 

[jenjersnap]

I am going to try it with my almost-3-year-old because I found it pretty tame and old-fashioned (that is not a criticism!). He's my last hope for a natural-born thrill junkie.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

My 2 1/2 year old LOVED it

HOWEVER. I would NEVER take a child on it at that age/size again. Questionable about my 4 year old too. They're entire daredevils. Thought it was GREAT.

But I FREAKED and felt like I needed to help soften every turn/blow/whatever. I totally tweaked my neck trying to keep her from tweaking hers.

And this is coming from a totally relaxed ride momma. Sooooo take it for what it's worth. (DH felt the urge to soften for my 4 year old as well)

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I just wanted to add that I took DD2 on the Fantasyland side. I probably would not have taken her on the Tomorrowland side, it is much jerkier IMO.

 

[alvernon90]

I took DD2 on it in March. At that time she was 2 yrs and 3 months.

And 36 inches tall?!? Guess who's going to Stanford on a basketball scholarship!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I just wanted to add that I took DD2 on the Fantasyland side. I probably would not have taken her on the Tomorrowland side, it is much jerkier IMO.

Crud, I wish I woulda known that

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

We took our 3 yr old on it she hated it not because of the ride it was the yeti roar.
We cant seem to get her on TOT again either she went twice and that was enough.

She loves soarin, space mountain, splash and big thunder she could ride these all day.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

And 36 inches tall?!? Guess who's going to Stanford on a basketball scholarship!

Well, the height restriction there is only 35 inches, which she barely made. The interesting thing was, that no one even checked her height. They were so concerned about measuring my cousin's little one (who is the same height as my dd) that they didn't even bother with mine. My cousin's DD had a pacifier in her mouth though and I know that didn't help in making her look "grown up"! My cousin's DD was NOT able to ride, by the way.

DD is a little tall for her age, but only the 50th-75th percentile....maybe still a basketball scholarship?!!

 

[thmar]

I read this on a post somewhere. It sounds like a great way to prepare someone for the Yeti (adominable snowman). Ask your child if he/she remembers Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer and Bumble (the snow monster)...how he roared because he had a toothache. But when Hermie, the dentist elf pulled his bad teeth, he was a nice Bumble. Tell them they will see Bumble roar and just to roar back at him like Yukon Cornelius did, and then he/she can tell him Hermie will pull his teeth.

 

[DahliaRW]

We told my then 3 1/2 yo that the Yeti was a snow cone monster who wanted to make snow cones for the kids. Didn't scare him a bit. He still calls anything that looks like it the snow cone monster, even the character in Rudolph!

 

[thmar]

We told my then 3 1/2 yo that the Yeti was a snow cone monster who wanted to make snow cones for the kids. Didn't scare him a bit. He still calls anything that looks like it the snow cone monster, even the character in Rudolph!

That is a good one, too!

 

[leslie_537]

My daughter was 3 the first time she rode the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Goofy's GO Coaster and BTMRR. SHe is a total daredevil and loves those type of things. Luckily she is tall! Then at 5 years of age she could ride California Screamin' that is now her new most favorite ride!

My son was 2 1/2 when he first rode the Matterhorn and Goofy's go Coaster. He loves them both as well. This year at 3 1/2 he should be tall enough to ride space and BTMRR. He can't wait and keeps talking about riding the train with his sister!

So I'd say go for it! He will probably love it!